POV: Ahsoka Tano

I woke up too early the next morning. Anakin was sound asleep next to me. He looked so peaceful when he was sleeping... I leaned across his chest and kissed his soft lips. He returned my kisses slowly. "Good morning," he whispered.

"Morning, Ani," I whispered back.

His eyes slowly opened and he smiled at me. "How do you feel, Ahsoka?"

I smiled, "I feel great! New and wonderful!"

"Really?" he laughed.

"Absolutely!" I saw him sigh. "Did you think something was...bad...?"

His eyes widened. "No, not you! I thought it was me, but with the way you're feeling, I think I did okay."

"Okay? You think you did okay? Anakin..." I teased.

His breath seemed to catch. "Was it... that bad then?"

I paused for the dramatic effect. It worked. "Anakin... you were amazing! Geez, look at your face – all pale and scared to death! Come on, if I'm happy, you did it right."

"Snips!" He attacked me with kisses and his strong muscles locked me underneath him. I got lucky to have this wonderful, strong man as my lover and master.

We were interrupted by a knock on the door. "General Skywalker?"

"Yes, trooper?" he said, putting the sleep back into his voice.

"We're landing in Coruscant in approximately forty-five minutes."

"Thank you, trooper."

We heard the footsteps retreating from the door. His eyes locked with mine. "Perhaps we should get ready for landing..."

I nodded and got off the cot. I made my way to the refresher, realizing he wasn't following me. I turned around, "Aren't you coming?"

He looked shocked. Maybe this was one thing he hadn't done with Padme... "Did you want me to go in there with you?" he innocently asked.

I smiled. "Definitely. Now, get over here or I'll drag you in myself." He got off the bed as commanded and walked over to me. He took my hand and I led him in. We showered slowly, washing each other. "Ani, I love you..."

He kissed my wet cheek. "I love you, too." I kissed him and backed against the wall, pulling him with me. "Here?" he whispered.

"Yes..." He made sure that this is what I wanted. It most certainly was.

This was our second time and it was just as good as the first!

POV: Anakin Skywalker

After our lovely shower was done, we had about fifteen minutes left before we arrived at Coruscant. I grabbed a towel for Ahsoka from the rack outside of the shower. She took it wrapping it around her tiny body. I grabbed one for myself and wrapped it around my waist.

We walked out of the refresher. I pulled on my Jedi vest and pants as Ahsoka dressed herself. As I was struggling to put my boots on, Ahsoka jumped on top of me, forcing me to lie down on the cot.

"Are we going to have more alone time on Coruscant?" she asked me.

"If we don't get assigned any more missions, then maybe. What you have to remember is that being in the temple means we can get caught easier. We have to be careful, Ahsoka."

"I know, I know," she sighed. "You forgot to mention that we need to keep our emotions in check, Master."

I hate when she calls me that... but I laughed. "See, you know what you're doing. Just be careful."

"Oh, I will," she replied, kissing me lightly.

"All right, Snips. We have to finish getting dressed."

She laughed and got off of me. She finished dressing herself quickly while I was still struggling with my first boot... She began laughing hysterically at me. "Why are your boots so tight?"

I could not pull this boot on for the life of me. "Don't – want to lose it – in combat!" Finally, the stubborn boot slid on up to my knee. Now for the other one... "I know, very funny." I could hear little snickers across the room.

Honestly, the second boot went on a lot easier in comparison to the first one. I stood up and put my belt and Jedi robe on. Well, I looked normal, but I felt extraordinary. Ahsoka smirked and grabbed my hand, "Let's go, Skyguy."

We left our room and began our journey to the hangar to get off this ship. Before we reached anyone, we released hands and shared one more kiss. We had just landed on Coruscant. I could feel the presence of many people waiting below for our arrival.

I felt a different hand rest on my shoulder and I turned to meet the blue skinned Twi'lek, Aayla. "Please, don't –" I began to protest.

She interrupted me. "Master Skywalker, I'm not here to finish what I began yesterday. I want to apologize for stepping out of line and crossing a personal line, especially in the presence of your Padawan. I set a bad example for her."

I could feel Ahsoka's tension and jealousy rising by the second. I wondered if Aayla felt it. "It's fine, Aayla. You realized that you had done wrong and took responsibility for your action. I accept your apology, Master."

I got off of the cruiser with Aayla, Ahsoka, and Padme. Obi-Wan met me with a brotherly hug. "Welcome back, Anakin."

"Glad to be back. I just feel like our mission was a failure because of me, Master."

"Anakin," he sighed. "You couldn't be left behind." His tone changed from the normal to a whisper. "If they hadn't found you, I would have jumped into my starfighter and gone after you, Anakin."

His smile was comforting and I didn't know what to say to that. Obi-Wan would risk everything for me. "Thank you, Obi-Wan. It's... good to know that I have you beside me."

"I look at you like a brother, Anakin. I can't leave my family behind or in the captivity of Dooku," he laughed. We began walking into the temple. "How are you feeling, Anakin?"

"Well, to be honest, I have been feeling a lot of pain..."

"Do you need to see a medical droid?" Concern was completely dominant in his voice at that moment.

"You know what," I began. "I'll actually go get it checked out..." That was a first for me. I normally just put my injuries aside, but this was painful beyond belief.

He nodded. "Do you want me to accompany you?"

I looked at Ahsoka, seeing curiosity in her eyes. "It's up to you, Master."

He chuckled. "I'll make sure that you're all right before I leave you."

"Ahsoka, you go back to our quarters. I'll see you shortly. We could spar a bit if you'd like," I said.

"Yes, Master. I look forward to it," she smiled. Master... that one word always gets to me...

She bowed and made her way to the quarters. "She's more obedient than you were for me, Anakin," he laughed.

"I must be doing something right, Master."

"Yes. Anakin, you're a good teacher and an extraordinary Jedi. I knew you'd do fine with a Padawan. It's a true test of your abilities and as of yet, you're doing everything you should be." Yeah, in his point of view. He knew nothing behind the scenes... If he did, he'd probably be extremely disappointed in me... As we made our way to the medical bay, a sharp pain surged through my side and into my chest. I was beginning to struggle with my breathing. I stopped and Obi-Wan whirled immediately. "Anakin! What's wrong?"

I was beginning to collapse onto the floor. "Can't... breathe..." I managed to get out.

Obi-Wan lifted me up and carried me – while running – to the med room. "Anakin! Stay with me!" His voice was beginning to become distant. My vision was beginning to blur. Finally, my eyes began to close...

POV: Obi-Wan Kenobi

I rushed Anakin to the medical room. I could feel his life slowly slipping away. I put the Force into my steps to increase my speed. I got to the room and practically thrust him onto the recovery bed. I knew the medical routines here and began them before the droid had wheeled out.

I put a breathing mask on him and turned it on. I began to stabilize his vitals to keep him alive a little while longer. "Master Jedi –" the droid began.

"I have this under control!" I yelled. His life kept going back and forth between the thresholds of life and death. It's one thing to see it happen, feeling it is extremely difficult to bear.

Later.

It had been a few hours and Anakin still hadn't woken up. "Master?" Ahsoka's voice called from behind the door. I assumed she was looking for Anakin, but seeing as though he couldn't answer, I chose to do so for him.

"Come in, Ahsoka."

She came in and gasped when she saw Anakin's condition. "What happened?"

"The medical droid is trying to figure that out now," I replied calmly, attempting to keep her calmed. Just as I had said that, the droid came back.

"It appears that he was recently injected with a poison. It entered his body through his right side and slowly made its way into his chest. If you hadn't arrived when you did, the poison may have spread rapidly. We may have lost him."

I breathed a sigh of relief. Anakin definitely owed me this time. I had honestly saved him from death. It was getting a bit late, so I decided that this was probably the best time to go to my quarters and rest for a few hours. I should have taken better care of him... I should have gone with him to Felucia. He was poisoned and captured because I didn't go with him. "Ahsoka, I'm going to head to my quarters. Get some rest soon, okay?"

She nodded. "Yes, Master. Good night."

"Good night, Ahsoka."

On that note, I took my leave.

POV: Ahsoka Tano

Obi-Wan just left. I was alone with my unconscious Anakin. From the moment I walked in, I could feel that he was fighting for life – and he was struggling. I grabbed his hand and hoped he could feel it. His hand remained motionless within my own. "Come on, Master. I know you're strong. You have to wake up soon..."

"Ah...Ahsoka?" I spun around thinking that someone had walked in, but no one did. I looked back at Anakin – still not awake... "Ahsoka, where are you?" The voice was louder but sounded almost droid-like. "Ahsoka!" The voice... it was Anakin's!

"Anakin? Can you hear me?"

"Yes. What's going on...?"

His lips weren't moving, but he was inside of my head through our bond. "You're unconscious in the medical bay."

"Why?"

"Okay, relax. You're going to be fine, Anakin."

"Doesn't feel like it. What happened? I feel a lot of pain. It's getting worse..."

"Droid!" I yelled to the medical droid. "The poison is spreading!"

"Poison...?" The droid burst into motion, looking for pain relievers to inject into his system. Thus far, we had no cure... Obi-Wan would work on that shortly. It found the injections and put them into Anakin's right side. "Ow! What in the Force is going on Ahsoka? I want answers. Now."

"You were poisoned on Felucia. Probably when you were captured, Master. The poison spread slowly into your chest which is probably what you're feeling right now. Where else do you feel pain?"

"My arms and legs..."

"We'll get you fixed up soon, Master."

"Ahsoka..."

"May I inquire as to how you are speaking with him?" the droid asked.

"It's a bond that a master and Padawan share. We have the option to close it once the Padawan is knighted. Master Skywalker and Master Kenobi closed their bond a while before I was assigned as his Padawan."

"Intriguing..." the droid muttered. It nodded and went back to working on finding a cure for Anakin. I grabbed his hand. Mechanical... I've always wondered what happened to him.

"Ahsoka... I'm tired..." His hand squeezed mine. I was shocked that he was able to touch me. I understood that he could hear me, but I hadn't expected him to physically react to me.

"Go to sleep, Master. I'll be here when you wake up."

"I love... you..."

I bent closer to his ear and whispered, "I love you, too, Anakin. Now rest."

Right after I had finished that sentence, Master Yoda walked in. "All right, Skywalker is?"

"He contacted me through our bond. He isn't physically awake yet. He let me know that the poison was spreading."

His eyes closed, "Soon, waking he will be."

Three hours later.

Soon, according to Master Yoda must be days... It's been three hours and Anakin still hasn't woken up. It was getting pretty late, but I couldn't leave him alone. He's my lover and my everything. I couldn't miss anything. I wanted to make sure he was alive and well. "Please, wake up soon, Ani..." I whispered.

I was constantly yawning. I switched off a light in the room and laid my head on Anakin's shoulder. I felt his hand tighten around mine, like it had earlier. It had been a few minutes and I was drifting off into sleep. "Chest... hurts..." I heard a moan.

My head flew up. "Ani?"

His eyes were slowly opening. Then, his magical lips moved. "Mmm... Ahsoka? Am I dead?"

"No. How do you feel?"

"I feel... like my starfighter exploded with me inside of the cockpit..."

"Do you need more pain relievers?"

"Can you actually use the syringe to inject them into me?"

"Uh..." I paused. "No..."

"Hand me one of those," he said, weakly pointing to an item with liquid in it. I picked it up and handed it to him. "Thanks, Snips." His mechanical hand released mine and flexed. He put the syringe in the false hand and rolled a bit of his vest up, exposing his chest. "This..." he gasped. "This is how... you use it..."

He demonstrated for me by plunging the needle at the tip into his chest and pushing down on the top to push the pain relievers into his body. He groaned a little, feeling some pain. "I can do that when you need me to, Anakin," I offered in a whisper.

He smiled at me. "That would be great, Ahsoka. Thank you."

POV: Anakin Skywalker

The pain was spreading quickly, but the medical droid said that my body was finally and fully reacting to earlier when I shut down in the hallway. Ahsoka stayed with me and Obi-Wan had just come back.

He walked in to see Ahsoka asleep on the other medical bed in the room. "I'm glad she finally went to sleep," I whispered. "She was up all night..."

His hand rested on my shoulder. "She cares for you, Anakin. You mean a lot to her. You're a good man and you're worth saving. You're going to be resting in here or in your quarters for a while. I'm glad that my little brother is all right now." He smiled at me.